Fruit Fusion - The Bear
Hoosier Brewing Company

 

Smoothie sour ale or alcoholic sorbet? Hoosier Brewing says, "You make the call!"

Laced with blueberry, blackberry, caramel and soft serve, The Bear emerges from its Fruit Fusion slumber with a ruddy purple and burnt lavender appearance. Pulpy, puree-like and coating the glass with sticky-sweet cream, the half-beer, half-sherbet ale swirls with aromas of dark berry, cream, honey, vanilla and a hint of peppery coffee. Robust sweetness coats the tongue with milk fats laced with sugar, berry juice and notions of toffee and poundcake, the early palate is dense with smoothie flavor.

The middle palate is a continuation of the early taste, soaking the tastebuds with cloying fruit sweetness and heavy cream. Anything caramel reads more like honey and only acts to fortify the fruit sweetness. The tanginess of the underlying ale adds a hint of citrus, cider and wine to give the berry tartness a bit more tangy flavor for a slim suggestion of balance. Finishing fruity and creamy, the late palate ends where the early palate begins.

Full bodied, rounded, sweet and fruity, the ale is best served straight from the freezer, scooped into a bowl and served with a spoon. Its a delicious thing, but is it an ale? For that, we'll all make the call.